Chhaya Rani Kispotta

Lost at the start, yet determined to move forward—a milestone ahead, though caught in a storm. Through the chaos, a clear path emerges in the distance, and I hope to reach it soon.

I have a deep fascination for exploring organelles under the microscope, from the tiniest to the largest, seeking to understand the factors shaping their beauty. To uncover the mysteries behind them, I screened protein kinase mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to determine pathways that dynamically alter organelle behaviour. I am currently exploring the role of phospholipid flippases and their regulatory kinases in organelle separation during cell division. 

Hitakshi Nagbhidkar

Eukaryotic cells maintain a constant nuclear-to-cell volume ratio, but the mechanisms behind this regulation is not well understood. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that increased nucleolar size triggers localized nuclear envelope expansion via phospholipid biosynthesis at the nucleolar region. My work focuses on gaining insights into how cells coordinate nuclear and organelle growth with expanded nucleolar volume. To answer the targeted recruitment mechanism of phospholipid synthesis, I am trying to track fresh synthesis and decode the pathway and enzymes involved. 

Bhaskar Das 

My work is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism behind the activity/role of Uip4, a novel ER protein that is important to maintain proper shape of various organelles like nucleus, mitochondria, ER etc. In the process of characterizing this protein, I am researching the lipid metabolism of yeast and how it is linked to protein homeostasis of cell. I am also interested in finding out the role of a potential homolog of Uip4 in higher eukaryotes to complete the story of evolution of this protein. In my work, I use diverse techniques of molecular biology as well as fluorescence microscopy to get an understanding of structure-function relationships. I seek to answer important questions of basic science through my research and hope that it will be helpful in understanding and treating disease. 

Vidya Vardhini 

Cells are often required to make crucial “fate” decision with spatio-temporal precision which is key for their survival and adaptability to their surroundings. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one such decision is the switch from mitotic to meiotic divisions, followed by spore formation, analogous to gametogenesis in higher organisms. I am currently investigating the role of the transcription termination factors, Rtt103 and Rai1 in meiosis to uncover the mechanistic details of RNA processing in regulating this transition. Using molecular biology techniques, genetic approaches, and basic microscopy, I aim to understand how RNA processing mechanisms mediate the control of yeast meiosis. 

Sirisha Munnuru

Microscope as a time machine,

Fluorescence as a map-guiding me

Through an invisible world where tiny cells  

Narrate the grandest stories.

I investigate the genetic regulation of nuclear morphology using a large-scale screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, analyzing thousands of non-essential gene deletions. Through high-throughput imaging and quantitative analysis, my research identifies key factors shaping nuclear architecture. Our work advances the understanding of nuclear integrity, with implications of cellular organisation in health and disease. 

 Manikandan M

My research aims to understand the mechanisms maintaining nuclear envelope (NE) architecture in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Building on previous work that emphasizes the role of nucleolus in maintaining the nuclear morphology, I focus on how proteins so far known to anchor rDNA contribute to shaping the nuclear architecture. Additionally, I investigate how a mitotic polo-like kinase regulates NE morphology within the context of the nucleolar model. Ultimately, we aim to discover NE/ER proteins involved in regulating membrane flow between organelles, ensuring proper nuclear structure and cellular organization. 

Reema Sahu

Nutrients are fundamental to the growth, metabolism, and survival of all organisms, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They serve as both essential building blocks, as well as energy sources for cellular functions. The availability and quality of nutrients significantly influence the yeast's growth rate, metabolic activity, and developmental pathways, often triggering extensive genetic and metabolic rewiring. My research investigates the role of nutrient starvation-induced nuclear reorganisation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its potential functional consequences. By exploring how cells adapt at the nuclear level under nutrient-limited conditions, I aim to uncover key regulatory mechanisms that may have broader biological implications.

Mavuniya P

The regulation of nuclear shape is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis, as it influences genome organisation, gene expression, nuclear transport, and cell cycle progression. In eukaryotic cells, the nuclear envelope and its associated proteins contribute to nuclear morphology, where abnormalities can impair cellular function and lead to various disease conditions. To identify genes involved in nuclear shape regulation, I am conducting a high-throughput genome-wide screening of non-essential gene deletion mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using fluorescent markers. I am also incorporating other organelle markers in the screen to investigate inter-organelle communication. 

Dr. Niraja Bapat

DST-WOS-A Scientist

The origin of life on Earth remains a great scientific mystery. In particular, the emergence and propagation of information-carrying polymers intrigues me. Given the coexistence of various kinds of molecules and chemical systems, including compartments and nonenzymatic replicating systems, on early Earth, it becomes crucial to understand the nonenzymatic replication in prebiotically realistic heterogenous solutions. Currently, I am analysing the effects of boundary conditions maintained by membraneless compartments on enzyme-free nucleic-acid-based reactions in the prebiotic context. This research work would be helpful in understanding the steps involved in the evolution of functional polymers, including ribozymes, during the origin of life.

Dr. Anusreelakshmi Sivadas

DST Inspire Faculty Fellow

Isn’t it interesting that while most of our genome is transcriptionally active, only a small percentage produces protein-coding and stable mRNAs? The rest of the genome transcribes to produce significant quantities of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts. Most of these ncRNAs, so-called cryptic unstable transcripts (CUTs), are rapidly degraded by the nuclear exosome. However, how these CUTs are recognised and targeted to the exosome for degradation is very poorly understood. CUTs are generally very similar to mRNAs, i.e., they are capped and poly-adenylated, and while mRNAs are packaged and exported to the cytoplasm, CUTs are loaded with RNA surveillance factors and degraded within the nucleus. Hence, two seemingly similar types of RNA have drastically different fates based on the protein factors that associate with them. In my project, I aim to characterise these proteins and protein complexes associated with target RNAs in detail.

K Anil

Lab Staff

Thank you, dear Anil, for all that you do,
For guarding the lab like a captain so true,
No bug dares to linger when you're on the scene,
With every surface left spotless and clean.

You ferry our files with tireless grace,
Back and forth to that bureaucratic place,
No groan, no grumble, no sign of despair—
Just steady resolve and always a care.

You keep things in order, both quiet and loud,
The unseen hero who makes us all proud,
So here’s to your effort, your calm and your might—
You make our work smoother, our days feel more bright.

Poet: ChatGPT ;)